Girl Gaga introduced on Instagram April fifth that her time inhabiting Harley Quinn for Joker: Folie à Deux had come to a detailed—however there’s nonetheless a protracted, lengthy wait earlier than any of the general public sees Todd Phillips’s hotly anticipated sequel. Meaning there’s nonetheless quite a lot of time to arrange for its launch. From the set images alone, we’re guessing there’s going to be lots to absorb; that’s most likely for the most effective.

The unique Joker has been divisive since its launch in 2019. It (fairly unexpectedly) gained the Gold Lion on the Venice Worldwide Movie Pageant and snagged a Finest Actor Oscar for star Joaquin Phoenix, however the movie’s darkish tackle the basic felony clown and its usually misanthropic worldview turned off some audiences. It’s subsequently all of the extra shocking that Gaga not solely joined the movie within the first place, however based on the scant data on the market, it’s mentioned to be, of all issues, a musical.

Phillips’s imaginative and prescient for the unique was clearly a nod to the work of Martin Scorsese (he even forged longtime Marty collaborator Robert De Niro in a key function), which implies Folie à Deux is more likely to have its justifiable share of references, cinematic illusions, and apparent influences. We additionally know rattling properly that Gaga herself is “unafraid to reference or not reference.” Right here, a information to what to observe to prepare for the movie and (attempt to) surmise what its vibe could also be. Apart from, everyone knows Little Monsters like to do some homework in service of their queen.

Joker (2019)

Streaming on HBO Max.

Properly, duh. Whereas the movie did gross over a billion {dollars} worldwide, we’re prepared to guess that the venn diagram of people that noticed it and the individuals who purchased tickets to The Chromatica Ball is just not a whole circle. So right here’s the hyperlink.

New York, New York (1977)

Whereas we don’t know a lot about Folie à Deux , essentially the most enduring (if not confirmed) rumor is that the movie’s soundtrack might take heavy inspiration from basic Liza Minnelli-starring musicals. That will clarify why Gaga signed on to the function within the first place (she’s a significant fan and up to date buddy of the multitalented legend). And whereas some Minnelli followers would possibly blanche on the thought, if there have been a Harley Quinn film made within the Nineteen Seventies, she might need been the right actress for it.

So Minnelli’s 1977 collaboration with Scorsese could also be one of many main keys to understanding the imaginative and prescient for Folie à Deux—particularly because it’s an sad love story.

It’s Scorsese’s solely musical, although preliminary critiques had been brutal, one thing the director didn’t take properly on the time. Nonetheless, it’s left one thing of a protracted cultural tail. Its title tune is now a regular (watching this video of Minnelli performing it in the midst of a soccer stadium is an absolute delight), and a Broadway adaptation with new lyrics from Lin-Manuel Miranda is presently in previews. Sadly, not solely is it not streaming wherever, however you may’t lease it on VoD. Nonetheless, the industrious would possibly be capable of discover it at their native library or via different means. The Minnelli-heavy soundtrack can be on Spotify and different providers.

Cabaret (1972)

Streaming on HBO Max.

One other Minnelli car rumored to be on the temper board, this one has a greater essential legacy (it gained Liza the Oscar, in any case) and is out there for streaming. Minelli stars as Sally Bowles, a naive if not delusional flapper from a snug background (American within the film, British in most different variations of the story) who absconds to Weimar-era Berlin with goals of changing into a severe entertainer. She provides herself to males in an effort to chase a dream she’s most likely by no means going to realize. That’s not fairly the m.o. of the Harley Quinn canon, but it surely’s additionally one thing you might see grafted onto her character—particularly because the relationship between Harley and the Joker has been depicted as quite a lot of issues, however “wholesome” isn’t considered one of them.

That’s Leisure (1974)

Streaming on Apple TV+.

One other musical that’s been name-checked within the rumor mill, this movie additionally options Minnelli, but it surely’s not truly a car for her abilities. As an alternative, she’s the cohost of what’s basically a feature-length clip present of among the greatest moments from MGM’s tales musical historical past (Scorsese’s New York, New York was additionally his homage to the studio’s musicals). Think about it the “Now! That’s What I Name Music” of musicals. Admittedly, it’s a bit odd this film is being talked about particularly. That’s sort of like saying Joker 2 is impressed by virtually each basic musical ever, however this does function a nifty cheat sheet if that’s considered one of your cultural blindspots.

The King of Comedy (1982)

Streaming on YouTube (without cost …legally!).

One other Scorsese movie that bombed on the time, however in contrast to New York, New York, its popularity has recovered lately. Phillips already acknowledged the movie’s affect on the primary Joker, but it surely’s definitely price expecting clues to the sequel.

De Niro performs a wannabe slapstick comedian combating each his profession and psychological well being who goes mad, and ultimately hyperlinks up with (and this can be key to understanding Gaga’s function) a disturbed girl to hold off a kidnapping. Sandra Bernhard performs that feminine lead, and like Minelli she’s one other actress who might need made an ideal on-screen Harley in one other timeline. If Phoenix’s Joker took inspiration from De Niro’s Rupert, it might stand to cause that Gaga’s Harley might have shades of Bernhard’s Masha. Severely, watch the clip above. You possibly can already see it, can’t you? “Wouldn’t that be nice? Wouldn’t that be fabulous?!”

Batman: The Animated Sequence (1992-95)

Streaming on HBO Max.

Not like most household-name comedian guide characters, Harley is a comparatively new addition to the canon. She premiered within the early ’90s on Batman: The Animated Sequence, the movie noir-inspired basic collection from Millennials’s Saturday morning cartoon days. Which means for lots of people, there’s nonetheless an unquestionably definitive portrayal of the character. In actual fact, it was voice actress Arleen Sorkin’s efficiency that elevated what was imagined to be a one-off background character to considered one of D.C.’s hottest names. In different phrases, in the event you thought it was a giant day on the Web when Gaga’s Harley costume debuted, that’ll be nothing in comparison with the timeline discourse once we first get to listen to her tackle the character’s well-known voice.

Right here’s one Harley-centric episode to get you began. Although the episode “Mad Love,” which tells the character’s darkish origin story, from the late ’90s follow-up collection Batman: The New Adventures is usually lauded as a basic as properly. Yeah, you’re studying comedian guide cartoon collection suggestions on W journal. The facility Gaga has.

Suicide Squad (2016) and Harley Quinn (2019)

Each Streaming on HBO Max.

In fact, Gaga gained’t be the primary actress to place her personal spin on the character, and it’s price scoping out the opposite variations beforehand. Margot Robbie gained reward and cemented her star standing for her work on the Suicide Squad, and Kaley Cuoco voices a model on the character’s very personal (and critically adored) adult-oriented animated collection. For the completists on the market, Jenny Slate voiced the character in The LEGO Batman Film, Christina Ricci voiced her within the Spotify podcast collection Harley Quinn and The Joker: Sound Thoughts, and Gillian Jacobs has voiced her in a number of audio dramas and animated tasks. Many of those are additionally streaming on, you guessed, it HBO Max.

Girl Gaga’s Saturday Evening Stay Episode (2013)

Streaming on Peacock

Gaga’s internet hosting stint on SNL again in 2013 nonetheless gives some perception into the total vary of her appearing potential. The sketch the place she performs a frazzled, forgotten, and aged model of herself (with a really affected, virtually Harley-like voice) might function a little bit of a preview. Notably, she additionally sung Minnelli’s “New York, New York” throughout her monologue. She additionally sung a full model of that tune on a Frank Sinatra tribute present again in 2015.